Magnetic shower curtain holder



Nov. 1, 1966 v. G. MUSHRO ETAL 3,282,328

MAGNETIC SHOWER CURTAIN HOLDER Filed Dec. 5, 1965 FIGE INVENTORS O JOHN H. DAWSON BY VICTOR G. MUSHRO FIGB FIG-2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,282,328 MAGNETIC SHOWER CURTAIN HOLDER Victor G. Mushro, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich, and John H. Dawson, 13370 Freeland Ave., Detroit, Mich; said Mnshro assignor to said Dawson Filed Dec. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 327,727 2 Claims. (Cl. 160-349) The present invention relates to a magnetic shower curtain holder and more particularly to a snap type of clip mountable over the bottom edge portion of a shower curtain for adhering lower edges of the curtain to interior surface portions of a bathtub or similar structure.

Heretofore, various means have been devised to anchor the shower curtain at its lower edge upon the interior of a tub or stall shower for the purpose of preventing the curtain from flying and billowing and for retaining the water upon the interior of the tub or shower.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel magnetized shower curtain holder which will anchor the shower curtain properly at its lower edges within a tub or stall shower.

Heretofore, efforts in this direction have been made wherein the securing device actually pierces the curtain for securement thereto. It is therefore an object to provide a shower curtain holder which will not damage the shower curtain.

These and other objects will be seen from the following specification and claims in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view from the inside of a tub with the shower curtain depending down into the tub and engageable with the inside of the outer wall thereof and anchored thereon by the present shower curtain holders.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of one of the holders shown in FIG. 1 assembled upon a portion of the curtain fragmentarily shown.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken in the direction of arrows 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the shower curtain holder in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the shower curtain holder with the fastener disengaged.

FIG. 6 is a similar view of the fastener engaged.

It will be understood that the above drawing illustrates merely a preferred embodiment of the invention and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the claims hereafter set forth.

Referring to the drawing, the stall area 11 within which tub 12 is located has across its upper portion towards the outer wall of,the tub a horizontally disposed curtain rod 13. A series of fasteners 14 on said rod movably suspends the shower curtain 15 of a fabric or plastic material.

Said curtain when normally closed to the position shown in FIG. 1 is intended to hang down upon the interior of the tub so that its lower edge portion is closely adjacent the interior of the outer wall of the tub.

The present shower curtain holder is attachable to the bottom edge of the curtain and is adapted to register with and adhere to the interior surface of the outer wall of the tub.

For this purpose there is provided, as in FIGS. 5 and 6, a hollow plastic body 18 which has a front face 19 nor- 3,282,328 Patented Nov. 1, 1966 to engage the interior wall 17 of the metal based tub 12, FIG. 1.

A snap button with an enlarged head 22 projects from the front face of said body and normally engages curtain 15. An elongated flexible fastener strap 23 is molded as a part of and extends from body 18 as at 24 and is adapted to engage around and under the bottom edge of curtain 15. Strap 23 includes end portion 25 apertured at 26 and adapted to interlock over button 22, FIG. 3.

In this assembly portions of the curtain are not pierced or damaged but merely surround the outer surface of the button as at 29, FIG. 3, with the apertured end portion 25 of the strap engaging over the curtain.

Body 18 has an interior cavity 20, preferably rectangular in cross section, and upon its outer edge has an internal peripheral retaining flange 21.

A permanent magnet 28 of similar shape is snugly nested within cavity 20 and is retained therein by rear flange 21, FIG. 3.

In the illustrative embodiment, the permanent magnet is constructed of rubber, artificial rubber or neoprene or a plastic material which has impregnated or embedded therein a plurality of magnetized ferrous particles.

Other magnets could be employed, as for example, of ceramic or metallic material. The disadvantage, however, in the use of certain metals is that they have a tendency to rust and produce staining. The ceramic magnets while usable are often brittle.

The peripheral retaining flange 21 upon the rear of body 18, spaces the magnet 28 away from the wall 17 of metal based tub 12. This provides the maximum magnetic attraction.

The flange 21, FIGS. 3 and 4 is approximately .002

1' inch thick and is suflicient to anchor the magnet within body 18.

In the illustrative embodiment body 18 is made of a polyethylene plastic material. It is contemplated that other equivalent materials could be employed, preferably of a non-magnetic or non-metallic character. One im portant advantage is that the curtain fastener does not in any manner damage the curtain as do prior art structures, since the curtain is not pierced by the fastening srtucture.

A stainless steel plate 27 is interposed between the magnet and the interior wall of the housing and has a directional effect tending to increase the magnetic forces between the fastener and adjacent portions of the tub.

Having described our invention reference should now to had to the following claims:

We claim:

1. A magnetic shower curtain holder comprising a hollow plastic body having a front face engageable with the outer face of a shower curtain at its bottom edge; and a rear face adapted to engage the interior wall of a metal based tub;

a snap button projecting from the front face engaging the curtain;

an elongated flexible fastener strap as a part of and extending from said body adapted to engage around and under the edge of the curtain, including an apertured end portion interlocked over said button and portions of said curtain surrounding said button; and

a permanent magnet nested and retained within said References Cited by the Examiner body for cooperative securing registry with the inner UNITED STATES PATENTS wall of sald tub, the securing of said magnet lncluding an internal flange at the rear of said body retain- 2,548,004 4/1951 Dueflene 24208'3 ingly engaging edge portions of said magnet. 5 3,1073 10/1963 Gluttmg 160-349 X 2. In the shower curtain holder of claim 1, a stain- 3115434 12/1963 Hahn 317 159 less steel plate within said body and positioned between 3177550 4/1965 Borgeson 24245 said body and magnet, said magnet being a block of N rubber with magnetized ferrous particles embedded there- HARRISO MOSELEY Primary Exammer' 1n. 7 10 P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A MAGNETIC SHOWER CURTAIN HOLDER COMPRISING A HOLLOW PLASTIC BODY HAVING A FRONT FACE ENGAGEABLE WITH THE OUTER FACE OF A SHOWER CURTAIN AT ITS BOTTOM EDGE; AND A REAR FACE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE INTERIOR WALL OF A METAL BASED TUB; A SNAP BUTTON PROJECTING FROM THE FRONT FACT ENGAGING THE CURTAIN; AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE FASTENER STRAP AS A PART OF AND EXTENDING FROM SAID BODY ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AROUND AND UNDER THE EDGE OF THE CURTAIN, INCLUDING AN APERTURED END PORTION INTERLOCKED OVER SAID BUTTON AND PORTIONS OF SAID CURTAIN SURROUNDING SAID BUTTON; AND A PERMANENT MAGNET NESTED AND RESTAINED WITHIN SAID BODY FOR COOPERATIVE SECURING REGISTRY WITH THE INNER 